Seat construction



E. B. WHITCOMB SEAT CONSTRUCTION .J an.

Filed sept. e. 1919` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Edm und Z3. Mzzfcoml B i l f i",

ATTORNEY APatented Jan. 22, 1924.

UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMUND B. 'WHITCOMB7 OF TOLEDO, OI-IIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE WILLYS-OVERLAND COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OIEIIIO.k

SEAT CONSTRUCTION.

Application led September To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND B. VVHIT- ooMB, a citizen of the United States. residing at rToledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seat Constructions, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an improved seat construction, particularly adapted to be employed in connection with seats for automobiles and other vehicles.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved means of the character described for retaining a seat support in proper position relative to the border frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for retaining the seat support in suitable position relative to the border frame and at the same time provide means for retaining` the lower edge por tion of the apron firmly secured to the border frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple construction and efficient in operation.

Further objects of the invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction as will be apparent from the detailed description to follow.

rThe objects of the invention are accomplished in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specification, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings formino' a part hereof in which: v

igure I is a detail plan view of a portion of a seat structure illustrating the invention.

Figure II is a detail sectional view, taken along the line II-II of Figure I` and illustrating the relative position of the various elements of the seat structure with respect to each other.

Figure III is a detail perspective view illustrating the manner of securing the border wire to the upstanding edge of the border frame.

Figure IV is a detail perspective view, somewhat similar to 4.Figure III., but differing therefrom in illustrating a slightly 8, 1919. Serial N0. 322,422.

modified form of border frame, especially adapted to permit the border wire to be readily attached thereto.

Figure V is a detail plan view of a seat structure illustrating a somewhat modified form of means for securing the seat support to the border frame.

Figure VI is a detail sectional View, taken along the line VI-VI of Figure V, and illustrating the relative position of the various elements of the seat structure in the modified form of seat illustrated in Figure V.

Figure VII is a detailed perspective view illustrating in detail the manner of securing the seat support to the upstanding edge portion of the border frame in the modied form of seat structure.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith, 10 indicates a border frame of angular form provided with an upstanding edge portion 11 extending therearound to which the seat support is adapted to be detachably secured. The seat support comprises a plurality 0f longitudinally extending wires 12 and a plurality of transversely extending wires 13, each of which is preferably secured at itscpposite end portions to a border wire 14 which extends around the outline of the seat support, the border wire being given the particular form which it is desired that the seat shall present. A member 15 is preferably located between the border wire l14C and the border frame 10, which member is secured to the border wire in any suitable manner and is provided with means for engaging the border frame to hold the border wire in position relative thereto. The border frame 10 is formed to have the outline thereof correspond to the outline of the border wire 14, and is slightly larger than the border wire, so as to enable the border frame to be positioned outside of the border wire and surround the same. The member 15 is provided at intervals throughout its length with a kplurality of loop portions 16, the end portion of each loop being bent outwardly and downwardly as indicated at 17 so as to engage the upstanding edge portion of the border frame whereby the seat support is suitably supported from the border frame. A plurality of coil springs 18 are supported from the seat supports', each of the sprin s being suitably secured to? the longitudinal and transverse wires comprising a portion of the seat support and extending upwardly therefrom to bear against a cushion 19 of the usual construction which is positioned upon and supported by the several coil springs. A bead 20 extends about the outer portion of the cushion cover in. the usual manner, and an apron 21 which may be formed of the same material as the cushion cover extends downwardly from the edge of the cushion to a point adjacent the border frame 10. The

apron 21 is preferably provided with a` pocket formed in the lower edge thereof within which is positioned a cord or wire 23 extending around the lower edge portion of the apron, and this -lower edge portion of the apron is preferably secured in position relative to thc border frame by means of a plurality of tongues 24 which may be formed integral with the border frame and so constructed as to be capable of being pressed into engagement with the lower edge portion of the apron for retaining the same in position relative to the border frame. IVhile the end portions of the longitudinally and transversely extending wires 12 and 13 are preferably secured to the border wire by being twisted therearound as indicated atl 25, these longitudinally and transversely extending wires may be secured to the border wire 141 or the member 15 in any other suitable or desired manner7 and the wire 14 and the member 15 may be secured together by means of suitable clips.

In the slightly modified form of the invention illustrated in Figure IV, the upstanding edge portion of the border frame is provided at suitable intervals throughout its length with portions 2G pressed inwardly slightly from kthe normal plane of the upstanding edge portion of the frame to provide suitable recesses between the upstanding edge portion of the frame and the inner surface of the apron whereby the loop portions of the member may be placed in engagement with the upstanding edge vot the frame without bearing against and wearing the lower edge of the apron.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures V and VII inclusive, the seat support comprises a plurality of transversely extending wires 30 and a plurality of longitudinally extending wires 81, each of which is provided with a looped portion 32 formed at each end thereof for engagement over the upstanding edge 33 of a border frame 32 which is similar in const-ruction to the border frame 10 previously described. The longitudinally and transversely extending wires 30 and 31 are interwoven with each other to form a wire mesh constituting the seat support, and this seat support is adapted to serve as a support for the springs 34 each of which is secured in a pocket formed of suitable fabric so that seat spring is suitably supported in upight position and spaced from the adjoining springs to form a resilient support for the seat cushion 36 of the usual construction provided with a cover 37 of proper material and having a bead 3S extending around the outer edge thereof as is usual in cushions of this character. iin apron 39 extends downwardly upon tlie edge portion of the cushion, the apron being provided with a pocket in the lower edge portion thereof within which is positioned a cord or wire 1() to form a bead upon the lower edge of the cushion, and the bead thus formed is engaged by a plurality of tongues 41 formed integral with and struck out from the body portion of the border frame so as to be capable of being pressed into engagement with the bead for the purpose of retaining the lower edge portion of the apron in proper position relative to the border frame. he loops 82 formed in. the ends of the transversely and longitudinally extending wires 30 and 31 engage the upper edge of the upstanding portion of the border frame so that the seat support is supported by the border frame, and when the springs and apron are positioned upon the seat support and the lower edge of the apron gripped by the tongues carried by the border frame, the parts are securely retained in position relative to each other so as to form a substantial unitary seat structure wherein the sev eral parts are supported by and properly retained in position relative to the body frame.

From the above description it will be seen that in both forms of seat construction illustrated herewith, means is provided for support-ing the seat support from the upstanding edge of the body frame and when the lower edge portion of the apron is secured to the body frame the springs positioned between the cushion and the seat supports serve to retain the seat supports in proper position whereby the offset portion grips the upstanding edge of the body frame to prevent disengagement ot the parts and to suitably support the seat support from the body frame. While the seat structure illustrated herewith is particularly applicable for use in connection with seat cushions adapted for use in automobiles or other vehicles, it will be understood that the structure shown is not confined to use in connection with vehicle cushions, butis clearly adapted to be employed in connection with any ot the different forms of seatstructures wherein border frames of this type are found to be useful.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this showing and description is illustrative only and for the purpose of rendering my invention more clear, and that I do not regard the invention as limited to the precise details oit construction. illustrated or described except in so tar as I have included such limitations with the terms of the following claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention broadly as well as specifically.

IV hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a device of the class described, a seat support, a border trame, provided with an upstanding edge, a portion oi' said seat support extendfng around parallel with said traine, and, means integral with said portion Yfor engaging over the upstanding edge of the border trame whereby the seat support is maintained in position relative to the border frame.

2. In a seat provided with a cushion having an apron depending therefrom, a seat support, a border frame having an upstanding edge. means carried by the seat support comprising a wire extending along said border iframe and having spaced loops formed therein for engaging over the upstanding edge of said border frame and means integral with said border frame for engaging the lower edge of said apron.

3. In a device of the class described, a seat support, a border frame provided with an upstanding edge, a peripheral member carried by the seat support and looped at intervals to form hooks adapted to engage over the upstanding edge of the border iframe for retaining the seat support in position relative thereto.

4. In a device of the class described, a seat support provided with a border wire, a border frame, a peripheral member secured to the border wire and provided with out-turned portions for engaging over the border frame.

5. In a device of the class described, a seat support provided with a border wire., a border frame surrounding the border wire, and a peripheral member secured to the border wire and provided with integral outturned portions for engaging over the border frame.

6. In a device of the class described, a seat support provided with a border wire, a border frame having an upstanding edge surrounding the border wire, and a member secured to the border wire and provided with oii'set portions for engaging the upstanding edge of the border frame.

7. In a seat provided with a depending apron, a seat support having a border wire, a border frame surrounding the border wire, a member secured to the border wire and having offset portions for engaging the border frame, and odset lugs carried by the border frame for engaging the lower edge of the apron and retaining the same in position relative to the border frame.

8. In a seat, the combination with a spring support and cushion, oit' an apron depending from said cushion, enclosing said spring support, a metallic border trame secured against the inner face of said skirt adjacent the lower edge thereof, and a plurality of outwardly projecting downwardly turned hooks integrally connected together and carried by said spring support for detachably engaging said border frame.

v In testimony whereof, I aiiiX my signature.

EDMUNI) B. WHITCOMB. 

